Dual occupancy in Redland — do you need approval?
Redland City Council's planning scheme — the Redland City Plan 2018 — decides whether a dual occupancy needs a development application, and the answer depends on the zone your property is in. Below is what its table of assessment says for each zone; or check your own address.
In a low density residential zone
Accepted if you meet the requirements. Two homes on one lot can be built without a development application if it meets the height and density rules and is outside precincts LDR1, LDR2 and LDR4, otherwise a code assessable development application is needed.
I don't know my zone — choose my council instead
The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.
Zone by zone
Dual occupancy. Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.1 | if not in precincts LDR1, LDR2 or LDR4, building height 8.5m or less, and density no more than 1 dwelling per 400m2If not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Low density residential zone code |
| Low-medium density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.2 | must meet the low-medium density residential zone codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Building approvalAssessed against: Low-medium density residential zone code |
| Medium density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.3 | if not in precincts MDR1, MDR2, MDR3, MDR4 or MDR5If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Building approvalAssessed against: Medium density residential zone code |
| Character residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.4.5 | Two homes on one lot always need a code assessable development application in the character residential zone. | Building approvalAssessed against: Character residential zone code, Healthy waters code, Infrastructure works code, Landscape code, Transport, servicing, access and parking code |
| Emerging community zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.21 | Dual occupancy is not listed in the emerging community zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Tourist accommodation zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.6 | Two homes on one lot are accepted if they meet the stated requirements; if not, a development application for code assessment is needed. | Building approvalAssessed against: Tourist accommodation zone code |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.20 | Dual occupancy is not listed in the community facilities zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.15 | dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| District centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.9 | Dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so under the default row it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Environmental management zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.14 | dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Local centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.10 | A dual occupancy is not listed in the Local centre zone table, so it is treated as 'any other use' and requires an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.16 | dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.8 | Dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so under the default row it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.17 | dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Mixed use zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.19 | Dual occupancy is not listed in the mixed use zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.11 | A dual occupancy is not listed in the Neighbourhood centre zone table, so it is treated as 'any other use' and requires an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Principal centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.7 | Dual occupancy is not listed in this zone, so under the default row it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Recreation and open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.13 | A dual occupancy is not listed in the Recreation and open space zone table, so it is treated as 'any other use' and requires an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Rural zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.22 | dual occupancy is not listed in the Rural zone table | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.12 | A dual occupancy is not listed in the Specialised centre zone table, so it is treated as 'any other use' and requires an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.18 | Dual occupancy is not listed in this industrial zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Building approvalAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay. On land mapped as erosion prone, material change of use or building work for a dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling), dual occupancy or community residence becomes code assessable and must be assessed against the Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay code. (5.9.1 Coastal protection (erosion prone areas) overlay)
- Airport environs overlay. No change to the category, but assessable development within the airport operational airspace or aviation facility buffer must also be assessed against the Airport environs overlay code. (5.9.1 Airport environs overlay)
Worth knowing in Redland
The tables of assessment do not state numeric minimum lot sizes for reconfiguring a lot; the numeric minimums live in the Reconfiguring a lot code and individual zone codes (not reproduced here). Reconfiguring a lot is impact assessable in the Conservation, Environmental management, Character residential, Tourist accommodation and Rural zones, and in the Emerging community zone where any lot under 10ha is created; it is otherwise code assessable. Building work for a dwelling house (shed, pool, fence, extension, demolition) is generally accepted development under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies (see overlay_triggers) — but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is still required, and dwelling-house building work in the Low density residential zone precincts LDR1–LDR5 (and dual occupancy/associated building work in LDR5) is accepted subject to requirements against the zone code. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) are treated as part of a 'dwelling house' under the QPP; a dwelling house containing a secondary dwelling still counts as one dwelling for assessment triggers in rural/emerging/environmental management/conservation zones. Where premises are in more than one zone or overlay, the highest category applies. The Transport noise corridor overlay is for information only (building work assessed under QDC Part 4.4). State Vegetation Management Act and Planning Regulation clearing exemptions operate separately from this scheme. There are no local plans in this scheme. Precinct variations (LDR1–5, MDR1–9, CF1–9) can change categories within a zone and should be checked against the relevant zone map.
What else you'll need
- Building approval
More about Redland
- What can you build in Redland? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Redland City Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Redland address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Cleveland
- Development applications in Redland Bay
- Development applications in Birkdale
- Development applications in Capalaba
- Development applications in Wellington Point
- Development applications in Alexandra Hills
- Development applications in Thornlands
- Development applications in Victoria Point
Other projects in Redland
Granny flatSubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Dual occupancy in Queensland.
Read from the Redland City Plan 2018 tables of assessment. General information, not advice. The council's planning scheme and the Planning Act 2016 decide — confirm with the council or a town planner before you build.